Feb 16 - The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has experienced a massive spike in calls, letters and emails since the most recent public hearing was held into the Salvation Army.

EDUCATION

Feb 16 - Taxpayer-funded security guards will be deployed at Jewish and Islamic schools across the country as part of an $18 million federal government program to beef up security at religious schools.

Feb 14 - Riyadh (AFP) - Red roses lurk hidden in flower shop back rooms and heart-shaped chocolates are sold under the counter, but Saudis still manage to buy Valentine's gifts and defy the religious police.

Feb 15 - Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - The discovery in Gaza of a life-size bronze statue of a naked ancient Greek god has presented the Palestinian territory's Islamist rulers with a dilemma: should there be a cover-up?

Feb 15 - Kuala Lumpur (AFP) - Malaysian Islamic authorities took their annual swipe at Valentine's Day Friday, calling it a threat to Muslim values, but 138 couples took part in a mass wedding to mark the date.

Feb 15 - TWELVE years after legalising euthanasia for adults, Belgium's parliament extended the right to die to terminally ill children of any age, despite opposition from the church and some pediatricians.

Feb 13 - THE creator of the Australian-based pro-Hezbollah Electronic Resistance website does not support a two-state solution in the Middle East and describes the Oslo and Camp David Arab-Israeli accords as “a lie” but denies the site incites violence and promotes terrorism.

RELIGION & SOCIETY

Feb 13 - Pharmacy chain Soul Pattinson has cut ties with a chemist who came under fire for asking customers to shop elsewhere if they use the pill for birth control, with the Prime Minister describing the chemist’s behaviour as ‘‘highly unusual’’.